This reminds me a little of when Ryan Giggs won PFA Player of the Year in 2009. Feels more like a reward for a lengthy and very fine career in a year when there hasn't been a single compelling candidate for the award.

Having now read most of the rest of this thread so far I am left with one, mind-boggling impression ............

........... what an embarrasing preponderence of parochial thought we have in the world of UK rugby league.

Small wonder teams from down-along have notched up so many wins against UK national sides, in recent memory.

For a moment, this summer, I thought this whole darned country had finally rediscovered national pride but it seems I was wrong.
How foolish of me to imagine such a thing because here we go again.
Monofocals firmly in place.

When, if ever, will the game of rugby league be blest again with a supporter base capable of laying aside the urge to put down, in favour of genuine, heartfelt congratulation?
Or at least, in it's place, a decent and appropriate silence?

You know what the real difference is, between Autralian rugby league teams and ours?
What has made it, in recent years, more likely than not that an Antipodean team will beat Great Britain or England?
It's a general state of knowing that they are great.

They know they are great because they know from birth that Australia (or New Zealand) is great.
Every Antipodean sports person, and every Antipodean person that an Antipodean sportsperson knows, knows they are great.
Everyone has been telling every one of them so, since the day that they were born.

Why, knowing that, would anyone doubt that, for them, the ability to win things is a natural part of life?

At one time, British teams used to walk onto the world's sporting arenas with that same certainty in their hearts.
For them too, winning was a normal and mostly probable way of life.
And this summer we saw that inner confidence glowing from the face of every British entrant in every event that took place.

So sad to see that many rugby league supporters, at least, have already abandoned belief in the power of instinctive, and honourable, national pride and returned to the previous, prevalent (though relatively recent), narrower vision.

Will we ever again hear, "Congratulations Joe, Jim, Mike or Kevin ....." without a string of seemingly inevitable Rugby League supporters', "Not as good as Jack Sprat, mind, nor even Jimmimy Cricket. But i grant you, so long as you don't mind Nigel Newt having been overlooked because the Ref was bent, you haven't done all that bad a job, I agree ......... so well done."

Here endeth yet another lecture, I know, but really!

:-)

Edited by Honor James, 04 January 2013 - 11:44 PM.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Fair point there about the negativity of the RL fandom. However awards of this nature are designed to provoke a bit of debate and some people are always going to disagree with the winner. You can't be too surprised when you pick essentially an outside favourite (considering the rest of the year's RL awards) and people don't neccesarily agree.

Personally I do disagree with the winner of this year's award - I will offer congratulations as Kevin is a great player - but I do also feel unease at the sheer intensity at some of the negativity coming from some quarters elsewhere online. At the end of the day, it's an opinion.

Having now read most of the rest of this thread so far I am left with one, mind-boggling impression ............

........... what an embarrasing preponderence of parochial thought we have in the world of UK rugby league.

Small wonder teams from down-along have notched up so many wins against UK national sides, in recent memory.

For a moment, this summer, I thought this whole darned country had finally rediscovered national pride but it seems I was wrong.How foolish of me to imagine such a thing because here we go again.Monofocals firmly in place.

When, if ever, will the game of rugby league be blest again with a supporter base capable of laying aside the urge to put down, in favour of genuine, heartfelt congratulation?Or at least, in it's place, a decent and appropriate silence?

You know what the real difference is, between Autralian rugby league teams and ours?What has made it, in recent years, more likely than not that an Antipodean team will beat Great Britain or England?It's a general state of knowing that they are great.

They know they are great because they know from birth that Australia (or New Zealand) is great.Every Antipodean sports person, and every Antipodean person that an Antipodean sportsperson knows, knows they are great.Everyone has been telling every one of them so, since the day that they were born.

Why, knowing that, would anyone doubt that, for them, the ability to win things is a natural part of life?

At one time, British teams used to walk onto the world's sporting arenas with that same certainty in their hearts.For them too, winning was a normal and mostly probable way of life.And this summer we saw that inner confidence glowing from the face of every British entrant in every event that took place.

So sad to see that many rugby league supporters, at least, have already abandoned belief in the power of instinctive, and honourable, national pride and returned to the previous, prevalent (though relatively recent), narrower vision.

Whill we ever again hear, "Congratulations Joe, Jim, Mike or Kevin ....." without a string of seemingly inevitable Rugby League supporters', "Not as good as Jack Sprat, mind, nor even Jimmimy Cricket. But i grant you, so long as you don't mind Nigel Newt having been overlooked because the Ref was bent, you haven't done all that bad a job, I agree ......... so well done."

Here endeth yet another lecture, I know, but really!

:-)

Not really. Personally there's a handful of British players I'd have given it to over him.

Actually, I think there is a logic to it. Winning the GF again, with a wonderful performance, winning the WCC, being central to the excellent series of wins in the Autumn, makes a fine body of work. As the award looks at which player has been the most influential, it is feasible for a player who is not the best in any position to win through consistency, inspiration and leadership.
If the Aussies were that bothered about having a more objetive test, they could have clamoured for a tour Down Under or a Tri or 4 Nations. If they want to sit on a beach when Sir Kevin is leading the way for England, they aren't in a strong position to moan.

Having now read most of the rest of this thread so far I am left with one, mind-boggling impression ............

........... what an embarrasing preponderence of parochial thought we have in the world of UK rugby league.

Small wonder teams from down-along have notched up so many wins against UK national sides, in recent memory.

For a moment, this summer, I thought this whole darned country had finally rediscovered national pride but it seems I was wrong.How foolish of me to imagine such a thing because here we go again.Monofocals firmly in place.

When, if ever, will the game of rugby league be blest again with a supporter base capable of laying aside the urge to put down, in favour of genuine, heartfelt congratulation?Or at least, in it's place, a decent and appropriate silence?

You know what the real difference is, between Autralian rugby league teams and ours?What has made it, in recent years, more likely than not that an Antipodean team will beat Great Britain or England?It's a general state of knowing that they are great.

They know they are great because they know from birth that Australia (or New Zealand) is great.Every Antipodean sports person, and every Antipodean person that an Antipodean sportsperson knows, knows they are great.Everyone has been telling every one of them so, since the day that they were born.

Why, knowing that, would anyone doubt that, for them, the ability to win things is a natural part of life?

At one time, British teams used to walk onto the world's sporting arenas with that same certainty in their hearts.For them too, winning was a normal and mostly probable way of life.And this summer we saw that inner confidence glowing from the face of every British entrant in every event that took place.

So sad to see that many rugby league supporters, at least, have already abandoned belief in the power of instinctive, and honourable, national pride and returned to the previous, prevalent (though relatively recent), narrower vision.

Whill we ever again hear, "Congratulations Joe, Jim, Mike or Kevin ....." without a string of seemingly inevitable Rugby League supporters', "Not as good as Jack Sprat, mind, nor even Jimmimy Cricket. But i grant you, so long as you don't mind Nigel Newt having been overlooked because the Ref was bent, you haven't done all that bad a job, I agree ......... so well done."

Here endeth yet another lecture, I know, but really!

:-)

Sorry that we dont agree with your opinion. This is a forum where different opinions are viewed right?

Actually, I think there is a logic to it. Winning the GF again, with a wonderful performance, winning the WCC, being central to the excellent series of wins in the Autumn, makes a fine body of work. As the award looks at which player has been the most influential, it is feasible for a player who is not the best in any position to win through consistency, inspiration and leadership.If the Aussies were that bothered about having a more objetive test, they could have clamoured for a tour Down Under or a Tri or 4 Nations. If they want to sit on a beach when Sir Kevin is leading the way for England, they aren't in a strong position to moan.

The Aussies played the Kiwis twice last year, compared to England playing Wales and France which do you believe is the tougher test?

Actually, I think there is a logic to it. Winning the GF again, with a wonderful performance, winning the WCC, being central to the excellent series of wins in the Autumn, makes a fine body of work. As the award looks at which player has been the most influential, it is feasible for a player who is not the best in any position to win through consistency, inspiration and leadership.If the Aussies were that bothered about having a more objetive test, they could have clamoured for a tour Down Under or a Tri or 4 Nations. If they want to sit on a beach when Sir Kevin is leading the way for England, they aren't in a strong position to moan.

+1

Also, id add that he received 3 back to back man of the match awards in the play offs, including the final, and could argue he was THE reason that Leeds won the Grand Final this year